We always make an effort, as a family to celebrate Liturgical feasts. Most of the time, the activities can be very simple and its okay. The main goal is to remember the solemnity, memorial or feast with love and devotion so our children will continue the tradition when they have grown and have a family of their own. Of course by doing this we become one with the vibrant life of our Holy Catholic Church.
So here are a few ways to celebrate the Feast of The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Read A Louds
Read Lk. 1: 39-47 with your children. For the very young, you may read from your favorite children’s bible. You can also ask your older children to narrate back the story so the younger children can hear it in a simpler way. Don’t forget to ask the littleest ones if they too, want to narrate back. We usually read together as a family in the evening before prayer so Tatay (Daddy in Tagalog) can join us. And even if my son and I have already read and narrated earlier during Morning Basket/ breakfast, we will read and narrate again - maybe even better, for the sakr of Tatay.
A few years back when we celebrated the feast of the Visitation, I showed our son some pictures of his Tatay and I at Ein Karem - a Catholic Church in Jerusalem where, tradition says, Mary recited her Magnificat. I told him about the long uphill climb and how his lolo (grandfather) braved every step even though his knees were hurting. He then asked if Mama Mary’s tummy was already big that time. I told him probably not yet. Then he said, “Good. She did not have a hard time like lolo.”
Reading a loud many stories with your children helps them process their thoughts and emotions. Telling stories and experiences of people whom they know makes it personal.
So read and tell stories surrounding this event in the life of our Mother. Share your own personal experience with visiting a pregnant woman or a mom who just gave birth. This will bring the bible passage to life for your children.
You may want to listen to some more:
Music and Movement
What better way to express the joy of this event with songs and dance!
Magnificat - Mary ‘s Canticle by Bukas Palad
Learn any one of these versions
Magnificat by Hangad, Ryza Martizez
Magnificat - Holy is His Name by Robert Kochis
A song for winding down, sitting on the floor with the littlest and rocking or cuddling.
All That I Am by Arnel Aquino, SK
I have also made a printable of the Magnigicat to post for a few week on the wall of our homeschool room. We will sing or recite it probably for a week after the feast before we begin our prayer to start our homeschool.
I am sharing the printable with you, and you can download it here:
Celebrate with Food
I am not good at baking cakes, especially from scrap. But this recipe from catholicculture.org seems easy to do, so I might try it this year.
Or we might make heart shaped cookies with blue icing, Mama Mary’s color. Then decorate the cookies as an afternoon activity.
Arts and Crafts
For children who love to paint and color, they can work on this coloring page while you continue to talk about the story.
Other Activities
If Covid restrictions in your area allow it, you can visit a pregnant woman or prepare a meal for her family. If not, maybe a Zoom call ould lift the spirits up of the expectant mother. Modelling love for neighbor, denying ones self or charity towards others will greatly impact your children and the way they respond to the needs of others.
Go to mass if you can or attend an online mass. This day is not a Holy day of obligation but if you can attend mass as a family as many times in a week as possible, it will always be a good idea.